Devine Scripture

Luke 9:59

What does Luke 9:59 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 9:59 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 9:59 means

Jesus told another man to follow him, but the man asked to first be allowed to go and bury his father. The request sounds reasonable culturally, honoring filial duty; however, it may also be delaying tactic. Jesus’ call presses urgency and priority of the kingdom over customary obligations. The incident tests whether religious duty to family outweighs allegiance to Christ. The demanded immediacy reveals that following Jesus sometimes requires suspending social norms and choosing the kingdom’s urgency over conventional ties and timelines.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said to another, Come after me. But he said, Lord, let me first go and give the last honours to my father.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And he said unto another, `Be following me;' and he said, `Sir, permit me, having gone away, first to bury my father;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But he said to another: Follow me. And he said: Lord, suffer me first to go and to bury my father.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he said to another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, allow me to go first and bury my father.

Context

This verse continues the sequence of would-be followers and their excuses (vv.57–58). It shows a tension between cultural obligations and the immediacy of Jesus’ call. Luke sets this to illustrate that discipleship frequently challenges social expectations. The next verse gives Jesus’ sharp reply (v.60), which reframes family duty in light of spiritual mission and underlines the demanding priority of proclaiming the kingdom.

v.58And Jesus said unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

v.59This passage

v.60But he said unto him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 8:21

    And another of the disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

  • Matthew 4:19

    And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men.

  • Matthew 16:24

    Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  • Haggai 1:2

    Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, This people say, It is not the time for us to come, the time for Jehovah’s house to be built.

  • Matthew 6:33

    But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

  • 1 Kings 19:20

    And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again; for what have I done to thee?

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